Preserving Lebanon’s Story: Field Mission to Document & Aid

Support Critical Documentation of Lebanon’s Crisis:

The realities facing Lebanon today are staggering and dire. For years, the country has endured widespread economic collapse, political turmoil, and relentless challenges that have left communities, infrastructure, and essential resources in ruin. With recent bombings, Lebanon is now facing a new wave of destruction. Buildings, homes, and critical infrastructure have been reduced to rubble, entire neighborhoods have been shattered, and the devastation only deepens as winter approaches.

The harsh, cold months ahead will make daily life exponentially harder for the people who remain, and this suffering deserves to be documented with honesty and urgency. This is not just about capturing images; it’s about preserving the truth of what is happening to Lebanon, recording the resilience of its people, and creating a record that can drive awareness and response globally.

This Mission and Why Your Support Matters:

With a team of dedicated professionals—an archaeologist, an anthropologist, an archivist, and a journalist—we are committing the coming months to documenting and archiving Lebanon’s hardest-hit areas, preserving the truth of what is happening to our communities and environment. We’ll be working to record the structural destruction, the environmental and social toll, the psychological impact and resilience of the people who are living through this crisis. This mission is essential not just to document but to bear witness in a way that compels global awareness and action.

While our primary focus is documentation, your support will also enable us to assist communities directly as we work. When we secure a capable 4x4 vehicle, we’ll be able to reach the most affected areas in the south and beyond. We plan to deliver critical supplies, food, and donations to remote areas where people are struggling most under the impact of this conflict.

Immediate Funding Needs:

To carry out this mission in such challenging conditions, our team needs specific tools and resources, including:

• Laptop for processing and editing content on-site, to ensure timely sharing of our documentation.

• High-capacity SSDs for secure storage of invaluable footage and images that capture Lebanon’s most vulnerable areas.

• Rugged, winter-ready boots for moving through harsh, remote landscapes, allowing us to access areas that are difficult to reach.

• Petrol and field expenses to sustain our ability to reach communities across the country.

My Background and Commitment to This Mission

Since returning to Lebanon in 2019, I’ve been driven to capture the stories that define us: social injustices, the diaspora, mental health struggles, and environmental challenges. Lebanon has faced unprecedented crises, and in 2020, the Beirut explosion cost me my equipment, portfolio, and archives. Yet my commitment remains.

Living on the edge of a conflict zone, I’ve seen firsthand the destruction and displacement affecting my own community. Bombings since October have left the surrounding neighborhoods nearly empty, with shattered buildings replacing once-busy streets. Our family, out of work since June, faces a growing struggle to get by. For me, this mission is more than documentation; it’s a lifeline—an act of resilience.

Paying Support Forward:

Beyond our immediate needs, any donations that aren’t used directly for our mission will be paid forward. These funds will go to individuals in the field who need additional support, as well as to communities and professionals facing urgent challenges in their own vital work.

Join Us in This Mission for Lebanon:

Your support is more than a donation; it’s a commitment to truth and to those whose lives have been upended by this crisis. By helping us document these realities and provide essential aid, you’re part of creating an enduring record that holds meaning far beyond this moment. Together, we can ensure these stories reach the world, fostering understanding, urgency, and action.

Thank you to everyone who has donated, is donating, or will consider supporting this mission. Your generosity is invaluable, and I am deeply grateful for each and every contribution. With your help, we are able to document these critical stories and bring aid where it’s needed most. This work would not be possible without your support, and I thank you for standing with us and for Lebanon.

I am deeply grateful for any support you can provide. It’s not merely a donation; it’s a commitment to sustaining a vision that seeks to uncover, challenge, and inspire through the lens of humanity.

Thank you for considering to be part of this journey.

Richard